Gun mount and ejection system

ABSTRACT

An armament system for aircraft includes gun mount and ejection system for a machine gun. The gun mount and ejection system includes an ejection chute assembly including a hopper positioned intermediate the uprights of a carriage supporting the machine gun.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/179,615, filed May 19, 2009, the disclosure of which isexpressly incorporated by reference herein. This application is relatedto U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/571,396, filed Sep. 30, 2009,titled “Ammunition Canister and Feed System”, the disclosure of which isexpressly incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

The invention described herein includes contributions by one or moreemployees of the Department of the Navy made in performance of officialduties and may be manufactured, used and licensed by or for the UnitedStates Government for any governmental purpose without payment of anyroyalties thereon.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to weapon systems and, more particularly,to helicopter armament systems.

It is known to provide weapon systems on aircraft, includinghelicopters. For example, 50 caliber machine guns have been mounted onhelicopters using an external store support assemblies. However, thereremains a need for a system to integrate updated weapons, including theGAU-21 50 caliber machine gun, onto helicopters, including the UH-1Y.Additionally, there is a need for an effective ammunition feed system,and casing and link ejection system.

According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, a gunmount assembly for a machine gun includes a gun cradle including spacedapart side members and configured to releasably couple to a machine gun,a carriage supporting the gun cradle and including a pair of spacedapart uprights and a downwardly extending pintle, and an ejection chuteassembly including a hopper having an outlet opening. The hopper ispositioned intermediate the spaced apart uprights of the carriage and issupported for movement with the cradle. An ejection tube includes anupper end coupled to the outlet opening of the hopper, and an open lowerend positioned below the upper end. The hopper is configured to collectspent casings and links ejected from the machine gun and convey thespent casings and links to the ejection tube through the outlet opening.

According to another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure,a method of ejecting spent casings and links from a machine guncomprises the steps of providing an ammunition belt to a machine gun,the ammunition belt including casings interconnected by links, ejectingspent casings downwardly from the machine gun into a hopper, ejectingspent links laterally outwardly from the machine gun, passing the spentlinks through a link chute from the machine gun to the hopper, andpassing the combined spent casings and links from the hopper downwardlythrough a flexible ejection tube and out through an open lower end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will become more readily appreciated as the same become betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view in partial schematic of an illustrativehelicopter including a prior art external stores support assembly;

FIG. 2 is a rear side perspective view of an aircraft armament system ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a front side perspective view of the aircraft armament systemof FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the aircraft armament system ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partially exploded perspective view of an aircraft armamentsystem of the present disclosure, showing the external stores supportassembly;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the gun mount assembly of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view showing the carriage oriented in arearward position;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 7, showing thecarriage oriented in a forward position;

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the carriage and the cradle of thegun mount assembly of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the carriage and the cradle ofthe gun mount assembly of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partially exploded perspective view of the carriage of thegun mount assembly of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a partially exploded perspective view showing interactionbetween the carriage and the azimuth stop body;

FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of the azimuth stop body of the cradleof the gun mount assembly of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the azimuth stop body of FIG.13;

FIG. 15 is a side perspective view showing the elevation stop body andcarriage in a first position;

FIG. 16 is a side perspective view similar to FIG. 15, showing theelevation stop body and carriage in a second position;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the elevation stop body of the gunmount assembly of FIG. 9;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of representative ammunition beltincluding casings and links;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the ejection chute assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the ejection chute assemblyof FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the ammunition canister and the feedchute for feeding the ammunition belt from an ammunition canister to themachine gun of FIG. 2;

FIG. 22 is a partially exploded perspective view of the ammunitioncanister and mounting assembly of the aircraft armament system of FIG.5;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the ammunition canister of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the right hand receiver of the mountingassembly of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the left hand receiver of the mountingassembly of FIG. 22;

FIG. 26 is a left side perspective view of the ammunition canister andmounting assembly of FIG. 22, with the canister uncoupled from thereceiver;

FIG. 27 is a left side perspective view similar to FIG. 26, showing thecanister coupled to the receiver; and

FIG. 28 is a top perspective view of the ammunition canister of FIG. 22,showing the hinged lid in an open position.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. Although the drawings representembodiments of various features and components according to the presentdisclosure, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certainfeatures may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explainthe present disclosure. The exemplification set out herein illustratesembodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to beconstrued as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, which are described below. The embodiments disclosed beloware not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the preciseform disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, theembodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the artmay utilize their teachings. It will be understood that no limitation ofthe scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention includesany alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices anddescribed methods and further applications of the principles of theinvention which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, a machine gun helicopter armamentsystem 10 of the present disclosure supports a weapon 12 and isconfigured to be mounted to an external stores support assembly 14. Thesupport assembly 14 may be coupled to an enclosure 13 of aircraft 16 ina known manner. Illustratively, the aircraft 16 comprises a UH-1Yhelicopter including left and right support assemblies 14 a and 14 bmounted to the left and right sides of the helicopter 16. The enclosure13 may be a crew compartment and illustratively includes a verticalmounting surface 150 and a horizontal floor 151. The helicopter 16 mayalso include additional weapons, such as rockets 18 a and 18 b,supported by and/or adjacent to the respective support assemblies 14 aand 14 b. More particularly, the support assemblies 14 may each includea pair of spaced apart downwardly extending arms 15 supporting a crossmember 17 which, in turn, supports rockets 18. A pair of sway members19, illustratively adjustable turn buckles, extend at an angle betweenthe arms 15 and the cross member 17.

In the illustrative embodiment, the weapon 12 comprises a 50 calibermachine gun, such as a GAU-21 machine gun manufactured by FNH USA ofMcLean, Va. While a UH-1Y helicopter and a GAU-21 machine gun are usedfor illustrative purposes, it should be appreciated that other aircraftand weapons may utilize the armament system 10 of the presentdisclosure.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the armament system 10 illustrativelyincludes a gun mount assembly 20 configured to support the machine gun12 for azimuth movement (about a longitudinal (e.g. vertical) axis 21)and elevational movement (about a transverse (e.g. horizontal) axis 23).An ammunition canister and mounting assembly 22 is supported within theinterior of the helicopter 16 and is configured to supply an ammunitionbelt 24 (FIG. 18) to the machine gun 12 through a feed chute 26. Thefeed chute 26 couples to the firing chamber of the machine gun 12 in aconventional manner. The feed chute 26 is illustratively formed ofinterconnected stainless steel segments to provide flexibility and maybe manufactured by Standard Armament of Glendale, Calif.

With reference to FIGS. 4-10, the gun mount assembly 20 illustrativelyincludes a cradle 28 operably coupled to a carriage 30. The machine gun12 is coupled to the cradle 28 in a conventional manner. The cradle 28includes a pair of laterally spaced apart side members 29 which aresupported by the carriage 30. More particularly, the carriage 30illustratively includes a U-shaped body or yoke 32 having laterallyspaced apart uprights 34 receiving the cradle 28. The side members 29 ofthe cradle 28 are supported by a pivot coupling 36, illustrativelydefined by opposing studs 37 supported by uprights 34, for verticalpivoting movement (i.e., elevational or about axis 23) relative to thecarriage 30. A base 38 connects the uprights 34 of the carriage 30 andis rotatably supported by a pintle 40. The pintle 40 extends downwardlythrough a hollow support shaft or mounting tube 42 of the externalstores support assembly 14.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a first or upper end 43 of the pintle 40 issecured to the base 38 of the carriage 30 through fasteners 44, such asscrews extending through a collar 45. A second or lower end 46 of thepintle 40 includes a nut 48 secured thereto and configured to secure thecarriage 30 to the support assembly 14. More particularly, the nut 48 isthreadably received on a threaded lower portion 47 of the pintle 40. Asafety pin 49 prevents unintended loosening of the nut 48 by beingreceived within slots 51 of nut 48 and passing through diametricallyopposed openings 53 of pintle 40.

With reference to FIGS. 11-14, the pintle 40 permits rotational movementabout axis 21 (i.e., azimuth) of the carriage 30. A pintle adapter orazimuth stop body 50 is supported by the mounting tube 42 and includesan arcuate raceway 52 extending between stops 54 and 56. A stud 57including a pin 58 extends downwardly from the base 38 of the carriage30 and is configured to ride within the raceway 52 as the carriage 30 isrotated about the longitudinal axis. The stops 54 and 56 define therotational limits of travel for the carriage 30 about axis 21.

A pair of notches 60 and 62 are formed in the peripheral edge of thestop body 50 and are configured to alternately cooperate with a springbiased stow pin assembly 64 extending downwardly from the base 38 of thecarriage 30. The stow pin assembly 64 illustratively includes a pin 63slidably received within a receiver 65 and spring biased downwardly in adown position (FIG. 11). A handle 66 is coupled to an upper end of thepin 63 to permit a user to raise and lower the pin 63. The handle 66 isreceived within a first slot 67 when in a lowered position, and isreceived within a second slot 69 when in a raised position. When the pin63 is lowered and received within notch 60 of the stop body 50, thecarriage 30 supports the machine gun 12 in a position substantiallyperpendicular to the helicopter 16 (FIG. 2). When the pin 63 is loweredand received within notch 62 of the stop body 50, the carriage 30supports the machine gun 12 in a stowed position substantially parallelto the helicopter 16 (FIG. 8).

With reference to FIGS. 15-17, a cradle elevation stop member 70 issecured to side member 29 a of the cradle 28 and is configured toprovide discrete set points, as defined by depressions or recesses 72 a,72 b, 72 c for the elevation of the machine gun 12. As shown in FIGS. 15and 16, a spring biased toggle pin 74 may be set and released, throughoperation of a lever handle 75, in position within one of the recesses72 a, 72 b, 72 c to provide a desired set point for the angularorientation of the cradle 28 and hence the machine gun 12 abouttransverse axis 23. In the illustrative embodiment, the recesses 72 a,72 b, 72 c are circumferentially spaced apart along an arcuate pathway76.

The ammunition canister and mounting assembly 22 is operably coupled tothe machine gun 12 and includes an ammunition receptacle or canister 82configured to receive a predetermined number of rounds of ammunition. Inone illustrative embodiment, the canister 82 is configured to receive600 rounds of ammunition forming ammunition belt 24. The ammunition belt24 is stored in a serpentine pattern within a storage compartment 81 ofthe canister 82 to facilitate feeding to the machine gun 12 through thefeed chute 26. The ammunition belt 24 may be of conventional design asincluding a plurality of rounds including a casing 84 receiving a bullet86, and a plurality of links 88 interconnecting adjacent casings 84(FIG. 18). The casings 84 and links 88 are typically made of metal, suchas brass.

As is known, when bullets 86 are fired from the machine gun 12, thespent casings 84 and associated links 88 are ejected at elevatedtemperatures. More particularly, spent casings 84 generally fall fromthe bottom of the machine gun 12 while links 88 are generally ejectedfrom the side of the machine gun 12 opposite the feed chute 26. Anejection chute assembly 90 is provided to collect and distribute casings84 and links 88 exiting from the machine gun 12 in order to reduce thelikelihood of the casings 84 and links 88 from falling onto helicopterexternal stores, such as rockets 18, or within the operator compartmentof the helicopter 16. More particularly, hot casings 84 and links 88coming into contact with other stores on the helicopter 16 may adverselyaffect their operation and/or present safety concerns.

With reference to FIGS. 2-4, 19 and 20, the ejection chute assembly 90includes a hopper 92 including an outlet opening 93 coupled to adownwardly extending ejection tube 94. The hopper 92 is illustrativelyformed of a durable metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum, and isreceived intermediate the uprights 34 of the carriage 30 and is coupledto the cradle 28. Referring further to FIGS. 19 and 20, the front end ofthe hopper 92 includes an inclined deflector 96 extending between firstand second side walls 95 a and 95 b, while an end wall 97 extendsbetween the side walls 95 a and 95 b at a rear end of the hopper 92. Abottom portion 99 extends between the side walls 95 a and 95 bintermediate the deflector 96 and the end wall 97. The bottom portion 99defines the outlet opening 93 for receiving spent casings 84 and links88.

The front end of walls 95 include a pair of notches 98 configured toreceive a pin 100 extending laterally proximate a front end of thecradle 28 between side members 29 (FIG. 3). A collector 102 of thehopper 92 is defined between the side walls 95 a and 95 b, the deflector96, and the end wall 97. A spacer tube 103 extends between a pair ofapertures 104 formed within the side walls 95 a and 95 b and providesadditional rigidity to the hopper 92. The spacer tube 103 is configuredto slidably receive a laterally extending pin 106 for securing theejection chute assembly 90 to the cradle 28. A cotter pin 105 isillustratively secured to the hopper 92 through a lanyard 107 and isconfigured to be received within an aperture 108 formed within the endof pin 106 to secure the pin 106 within the spacer tube 103.

The ejection chute assembly 90 is configured to facilitate conveyance ofspent casings 84 and links 88 away from the gun 12, particularly whenused in connection with a gun having a high rates of fire (for exampleGAU-21 with potential of 1,100 shots per minute). The deflector 96cooperates with the outlet opening 93 (FIG. 19) to facilitate dischargeof the spent casings 84 and links 88 into the ejection tube 94. Moreparticularly, the deflector 96 is angled relative to the gun 12 suchthat spent casings 84 deflect or ricochet off of the deflector 96, passthrough the outlet opening 93, and into the ejection tube 94, withouttending to collect or jam by bridging the opening 93. The angle ofdeflection of the spent casings 84 is determined by the angle ofdischarge of the casings 84 from the gun 12 and the angle of thedeflector 96 relative to the gun 12. In the illustrative embodimentshown in FIG. 6, the deflector 96 is angled from the longitudinal axis109 of the gun barrel by about 47 degrees (+/−5 degrees). As such, theangle α as shown in FIG. 20 is about 47 degrees (+/−5 degrees) and theangle between the bottom portion 99 and the deflector 96 is about 133degrees (+/−5 degrees).

As shown in FIG. 19, the ejection tube 94 illustratively includes aflexible portion 110 having an upper end coupled to a cylindricalconnector 111 of the hopper 92 through a band clamp 112. A bottomportion of the connector 111 has an enlarged, illustratively flared,portion 113 having an increased diameter to prevent the clamp 112, andhence the tube 94, from slipping off of the hopper 92. An end sleeve 114defines a lower open end 116 of the ejection tube 94 and is coupled tothe flexible portion 110 through fasteners, such as grommets 118. Theflexible portion 110 is illustratively formed of a heat and flameresistant material. In one illustrative embodiment, the flexible portion110 is formed of CEET ducting, including a support formed of a coppercoated or bronze plated spring steel wire helix, a liner and a coverformed of woven fiberglass fabric impregnated and coated with neoprenerubber, and a fiberglass cord impregnated with neoprene rubber supportedoutside of the cover. The end sleeve 114 may comprise a heat shrinkableinsulation sleeving that is configured to prevent damaging contact withthe lower end of the flexible portion 110 and fraying thereof.

A securing device 120 illustratively secures the ejection tube 94 to thesupport 18. The securing device 120 may comprise a releasable clip 122coupled to a ring 124 which, in turn, is secured to the flexible portion110 of the ejection tube 94 by a band clamp 126. The clip 122 coupled toone of the sway members 19 of the support 18 to restrict movement of theejection tube 94 (FIG. 2).

An upper opening 128 of the hopper 92 collects the ejected casings 84and directs them to the tube 94. Similarly, first and second ports orreceivers 130 are supported by opposing side walls 95 of the hopper 92and collect the ejected links 88 and direct them to the tube 94. Asnoted above, the links 88 are generally ejected from the side of machinegun 12 opposite the feed chute 26. As such, a link chute 132 is coupledto the receiver 130 opposite the feed chute 26 (FIG. 2). The opposingreceivers 130 provides flexibility for coupling link chute 132 toopposing sides of the machine gun 12 depending upon the orientationthereof (for example, left or right side of the helicopter 16). In otherwords, the link chute 132 may be positioned on either side of themachine gun 12, opposite the feed chute 26. The link chute 132 isillustratively formed of interconnected stainless steel segments toprovide flexibility and may be manufactured by Standard Armament ofGlendale, Calif.

In operation, ejected casings 84 drop through the upper opening 128 ofthe hopper 92, while links 88 pass through the link chute 132 andthrough the receiver 130 of the hopper 92. The casings 84 and links 88pass through the collector 102 and down through the ejection tube 94.The ejection tube 94 directs the ejected casings 84 and links 88 awayfrom the helicopter 16. Combining the casings 84 and links 88 in thehopper 92 reduces space requirements and reduces operational issues withthe machine gun 12. More particularly, the ejection chute assembly 90facilitates ejection of casings 84 and links 88 associate with weaponsoperating at high rates of speed (for example, at the GAU-21 machinegun).

With reference to FIGS. 2-5 and 21, the ammunition canister 82 isconfigured to be releasably coupled to the interior of the helicopter 16through a mounting assembly 144. As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, thecanister 82 illustratively includes a first side wall 134, and a secondside wall 136 extending parallel to the first side wall 134. A first endwall 138 extends between the first side wall 134 and the second sidewall 136. A second end wall 140 extends between the first side wall 134and the second side wall 136 in spaced relation to the first end wall138. The storage compartment 81 is defined by the walls 134, 136, 138,and 140 and is accessible through an open upper end 142.

Referring now to FIGS. 22, 24, and 25, the mounting assembly 144includes a pair of first mounting members, illustratively a first orleft receiver 146 and a second or right receiver 148 supported by avertical mounting surface 150. The mounting surface 150 may comprise thelongitudinally extending transmission wall of the helicopter 16. Thereceivers 146 and 148 each illustratively include a first or lowercoupler 152 a and a second or upper coupler 152 b supported by a base153 secured to mounting surface 150. With reference to FIGS. 24 and 25,each coupler 152 a and 152 b illustratively includes a C-shaped bracket154 having an upper arm 156 and a lower arm 158 defining an end bracketreceiving opening 160. A resilient pad 161, illustratively apolyurethane foam, may be supported by the base 153 and provides acushion between the canister 82 and the mounting surface 150.

Referring further to FIGS. 22 and 23, a pair of second mounting members,illustratively a first or left end bracket 162 and a second or right endbracket 164 are secured to opposing first and second end walls 138 and140, respectively, of the canister 82. Each bracket 162, 164 includeslaterally spaced apart openings 166 a and 166 b (FIG. 23). The first endbracket 162 is configured to be releasably coupled to the first receiver146, and the second end bracket 164 is configured to be releasablycoupled to the second receiver 148. More particularly, a first pin 170is illustratively slidably received by the first end bracket 162 and thelower coupler 152 a of first receiver 146, while a second pin 172 isillustratively slidably received by the second end bracket 164 and thelower coupler 152 a of the second receiver 148.

As shown in FIG. 22, the arms 156 and 158 of the brackets 154 eachinclude upper and lower bushings 171 and 173, respectively, configuredto slidably receive one of the pins 170 and 172. Each pin includes aspring biased ball 174 configured to engage respective bushing 171, 173as the pin 170, 172 is moved axially therethrough.

A third pin 176 is illustratively slidably received by the upper coupler152 b of the first receiver 146, while a fourth pin 178 isillustratively slidably received by the upper coupler 152 b of thesecond receiver 148. The pins 170, 172, 176, 178 are secured to therespective bases 153 by lanyards 180.

The combination of lower coupler 152 a and upper coupler 152 b for eachreceiver 146 and 148 facilitates mounting of different size ammunitioncanisters to the mounting surface 120. In the illustrative embodiment,the receiver 146 and 148 may be utilized to mount either GAU-21 orGAU-17 ammunition canisters. The upper couplers 152 b provide additionalflexibility in mounting canisters 82 of varying sizes (for example, toaccommodate different types, sizes, and amounts of ammunition). Forexample, canister 82 of FIG. 22 includes only single brackets 162 and164 on each end wall 138 and 140, while larger canisters 82 may betaller and have a second set of brackets (not shown) above the brackets162 and 164 for coupling with couplers 152 b.

The left and right end brackets 162 and 164 are mirror images of eachother to facilitate mounting of the canister 82 on either side of thehelicopter 16. In other words, the canister may be coupled with thefirst side wall 134 facing the mounting surface 150 in a firstorientation, and may be coupled with the second side wall 134 facing themounting surface 150 in a second orientation (i.e., rotated 180 degreesabout a vertical axis).

With reference to FIGS. 26-28, the ammunition canister 82 also includesa lid 182 coupled to second side wall 136 by a hinge 184 to cover atleast a portion of open upper end 142. A latch 186 is supported oppositethe hinge 184 and is configured to engage a catch 188 supported by thefirst side wall 134.

As shown in FIG. 22, a first outlet opening 190 is defined between thelid 182 and the first end wall 138, while a second outlet opening 192 isdefined between the lid 182 and the second end wall 140. The ammunitionfeed chute 26 may be operably coupled to the canister 82 above the firstoutlet opening 190 in the first orientation of the canister 82 (FIG.21), and may be operably coupled to the canister 82 above the secondoutlet opening 192 in the second orientation of the canister 82. A firstpair of feed chute catches 194 are supported by the first and secondside walls 134 and 136 adjacent the first outlet opening 190, and asecond pair of feed chute catches 196 are supported by the first andsecond side walls 134 and 136 adjacent the second outlet opening 192.Rollers 198 are provided on opposing sides of the lid 182 to facilitatefeeding of the ammunition belt 24 from the canister 82 through the feedchute 26.

The ammunition feed chute 26 extends from the outlet opening 190,192 ofthe ammunition canister 82 to a receiver chamber 199 of the gun 12. Thecanister 82 is mounted adjacent the vertical mounting surface 150 andthe floor 151 to minimize the consumption of usable space within theenclosure 13, and to ensure sufficient positioning of the feed chute 26so it limits restrictions on movement of the ammunition belt 24 throughthe feed chute 26 over the full range of movement of the gun 12. Theoutlet opening 190, 192 of the ammunition canister 82 is illustrativelypositioned below the receiver chamber 199 of the gun 12 to reduce thebending of the feed chute 26 therebetween and limit the drag on theammunition belt 24 traveling through the feed chute 26.

With reference to FIGS. 26 and 27, end walls 138 and 140 of the canister82 include sights 200 such that ammunition belt 24 remaining in thestorage compartment 81 of canister 82 is visible. As such, the operatorcan view how much ammunition is remaining or needs to be added.Illustratively, the sight 200 comprises a pair of upper vertical slots202 formed in the first and second end walls 138 and 140 above therespective end brackets 162 and 164, and a pair of lower vertical slots204 formed in the first and second end walls 138 and 140 below therespective end brackets 162 and 164.

While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design,the present invention may be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains.

1. A weapon system comprising: a machine gun; a gun cradle supportingthe machine gun; an ejection chute assembly including a hopper having afirst side wall, a second side wall, a bottom portion defining anopening and coupled between the first side wall and the second sidewall, and a deflector coupled between the first side wall and the secondside wall and extending at an obtuse angle to the bottom portion, theejection chute assembly further including an ejection tube having anupper end coupled to the opening of the bottom portion of the hopper andan open lower end, the deflector of the hopper configured to deflectspent casings from the machine gun toward the opening and the ejectiontube; a link chute, wherein the hopper further includes a receiversupported by each side wall and configured to couple to the link chute;wherein the hopper further includes an open upper end and a downwardlyextending cylindrical connector, and a band clamp coupling the ejectiontube to the connector of the hopper.
 2. The weapon system of claim 1,wherein the obtuse angle between the deflector and the bottom portion isbetween 128 degrees and 138 degrees.
 3. The weapon system of claim 1,further comprising a first pin coupling a front end of the hopper to thegun cradle, and a second pin coupling a rear portion of the hopper tothe gun cradle.
 4. The gun mount assembly of claim 3, further comprisinga spacer tube extending between the first and second side walls of thehopper, the second pin extending through the spacer tube and throughlaterally spaced side members of the gun cradle.